Page 69 of Savage Prince

After fiddling with his bandage again to ensure it’s comfortable, I flop back down on the lounger. I have Elena’s contact information but no way of actually reaching her. I’ve debated going back into town to buy some supplies for hours. My stomach is growling, close to the point of eating itself, and even the bottles of water I found in the cabinets are about to run out. And I need a phone. After thedottoressaleft yesterday, I rifled through Antonio’s clothes and almost cried like ababy when I found his wallet. The cash had been soaked and destroyed from our walk through the river, but the credit cards seem to be in good shape.

Using the credit card is risky, in case someone is tracking Antonio’s financials, but at this point, I’m willing to take the chance. Being cut off from the rest of the world won’t be feasible for much longer. Besides, we’ll need money once he wakes up so we can get the hell out of here.

The musky, salty scent of the boathouse is already permanently embedded in my nostrils, and I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. My stomach churns, queasiness setting in from the lack of a proper meal in over forty-eight hours. I’d been so worried about Antonio, I’d totally forgotten about my basic needs.

Shit… was Bella right? Have I fallen for Antonio Ferrara in only a week?

Nope, not possible.

Only a complete psychopath would fall in love with a man like Ferrara.

It’s just the chaotic situation we’ve been forced in, the near-death experience, and the amazing mind-blowing orgasm. My poor head and heart are just confused.

With that thought in mind, I force myself off the lounger and grab the wallet beside me. It’s time to go into town and plan for my next move. If Alessandro is meeting me in Milano in two days, I need to make damned sure I’m there for the extraction or Bella will have the entirety of the Kings forces descending on northern Italy.

Lacing my sneakers, I shove the wallet in my pocket and head for the door.Dio, I’d give anything for a change of clothes and a shower. With Antonio’s credit card, I could have both of those things but the moment the store owner runs the card, it’s onlya matter of time until we’re tracked to Como. The boathouse is secluded enough, but for how long will it be safe?

I stand at the door, willing my feet forward, but my head swings back all the same. Antonio is just where I left him, eyes closed, fast asleep.Move. I urge my feet forward.He’s fine. He’ll be fine.Damn it, Serena, you are not allowed to fall in love with your kidnapper!

Reaching for the fisherman’s hat by the door, I drop it onto my wild nest of hair. Then, twisting the old door handle, I march out, forbidding myself to look back.

Dozens of tourists fill the cobblestone streets of the old town, and I try my best to remain hidden within the masses, clutching my bag of groceries in one hand and the new pre-paid cell in the other. I’m so hungry, I can’t help myself but bite into an apple as I head back toward the dock where I’d left the Riva.

I pass by a little boutique, the mannequin dressed in a cute flowy top and jeans calling to me, but I force my legs to keep moving. Maybe Antonio woke up and for some inexplicable reason the idea of him finding himself alone tugs at invisible strings around my heart.

Shaking the stupid out, I turn down a quieter side street that leads back to the lake. Only a few pedestrians line the road, a woman with a child and another man walking half a block behind me. I hazard a quick glance back and meet a pair of dark eyes. Coincidence. We’re in Italy, lots of men check out blondes. Even with the oversized hat and sweats, my long locks are a beacon to the roving eye. I draw in a breath, reminding myself to stay calm. The woman disappears into a store just ahead, leavingonly me and the other guy. I quicken my pace, matching the accelerating footfalls behind me.

Turning another corner, I start to move faster, the swishing of the plastic bags against my thighs echoing the manic beats of my thundering pulse. I glance back again, and he’s there, slowly shrinking the distance between us.

I have Antonio’s gun, but I can’t just open fire in the middle of downtown Como without attracting attention. Just to test my theory, I stop in front of a boutique and spend minutes staring at the mannequin. I wait for the guy to pass by me, but he never does. Shit. This is not a coincidence.

“Buongiorno. May I help you?” A sales lady appears in the doorway, and I release the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Yes,” I murmur as I point at the display window. “I’d like to try that on.”

“Certo, come right this way.”

I follow her inside the store and instantly, my wild pulse begins to slow. Guess I am going shopping after all.

I take an excessive amount of time trying on clothes, then modeling them in front of the mirror in the main part of the store. Each time I emerge from the changing room, I catch a glimpse of the man lingering just across the street.

Damn it. It has to have been Antonio’s credit card. Tracking someone’s financials like that is no easy feat. Whoever is after Antonio is still here, and they have deep pockets and eyes everywhere. How the hell am I going to make it back to the boat without being followed? Or worse…

When I disappear into the changing room, I take an extra-long break, trying to figure out my next move. I could call Elena with my new phone. She’s the only person I know in Como, but I hate dragging her into this again. She’s already made her feelings about Antonio clear. And if reaching out putsher in danger, I’d never forgive myself. Rifling through the pile of clothes I’ve amassed, I feel slightly guilty for the sales lady. I’ve worked retail before and cleaning up the dressing rooms at closing is the worst part of the job.

That guilt forces my hand to pick up a cute top and jeans, something that’ll be easy to run in. I shove Antonio’s sweatpants and gun into the plastic bag with the new phone in it, and finally, push back the linen curtain.

“Have you made your decision?” the saleslady asks.

“Yes, I’ll take this.” I signal to the new outfit I’m already wearing. “I came on foot so unfortunately I won’t be able to carry everything I loved back, but I’ll be back with my husband for more!”Husband? Where the hell did that come from?

“Of course.” She smiles and starts to pull the tickets off the clothes.

Once I’ve paid, I tick my head toward the door I’d seen at the back of the store. “Can I go out the back? It’s a little closer to my walk home.”

“Yes, of course,signorina.” She leads me through the changing room to the metal door in the back. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“I hope so too.”

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